When you get vending machines for your location, it's important to understand there's more to receiving good service than choosing the best company in your area. Even though you are the customer, to get the most out of your service means knowing what you can do on your end to help. It's really no different from any other product or service on the market. Here are three ways you can ensure the service you receive meets--or even succeeds--your expectations.

There are multiple benefits for increasing energy efficiency in multifamily communities, including the reduced cost of energy bills for both ownership and residents. Achieving energy efficiency goals, however, can become problematic due to the sometimes conflicting interests of property managers and their tenants. Despite these challenges, however, reducing energy consumption helps increase property value and therefore should be included in every property manager's strategic goals.

Warehouse work is often repetitive, physically demanding, and sometimes dangerous. Keeping employees engaged thus becomes essential not only for retaining quality workers, but for avoiding injury as well. So how do you keep them engaged? Here are three priorities to set in order to increase engagement among your warehouse employees.

Coca-Cola is one of the world's most recognizable brands. Their products are everywhere. At the grocery store, stadiums, restaurants...and let's not forget about the bazillion Coke vending machines out there.

Companies that want to consolidate their vending machine services into a national account are able to do so through a vending management program. If you're conducting research into single-source vending solutions for your organization, a national program is the way to go. Not only does it help you generate revenue, but it can keep your company focused on core business initiatives and help reduce risks associated with vendors on site.

An office break room is more than just a place for employees to eat lunch. It's where they can decompress after a long, intense meeting or stressful phone call, or stretch their legs and get brief change of scenery. It's also a place for them to learn about each other more and develop strong working relationships.

Property managers and management companies face a variety of risks associated with tenants on a near-daily basis. Safety concerns, pet policies, damage, defaulting on rent...the list goes on and on. Throw in all the vendors and contractors that come on site and it becomes clear that a proper risk management strategy is essential. Included in that strategy should be procedures for vetting the vendors you use.

Constant changes in procurement these days in any industry requires a high degree of agility if an organization wants to stay competitive. In hospitality and hotel management, guest preferences force hotel procurement departments to stay abreast of multiple trends at once. Not keeping pace can only spell bad news for your hotel(s) and impact them in a variety of ways, namely revenue. Here are three challenges hotels are up against and how procurement teams can help.

The process of procuring goods and services for multifamily housing doesn't end once contracts are signed and the on-boarding process is complete. In fact, there is no end: as any procurement professional regardless of industry will attest to, ongoing communication with suppliers is essential to maximizing efficiency, reducing risks, and developing strong partnerships.